List of Kilmarnock F.C. seasons explained

This is a list of seasons played by Kilmarnock Football Club, an association football club based in Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire, Scotland, up to the present day. The list details the club's record in major league and cup competitions. Records of regular minor competitions, such as the Ayrshire Cup which Kilmarnock won 43 times, are not included.

Summary

Kilmarnock F.C. was founded in 1869 during a general meeting at Robertson's Temperance Hotel on Portland Street.[1] The club first played professional football in 1873 when they participated in the inaugural season of the Scottish Cup, an annual knockout competition. They did not play league fixtures until 1895 when they joined the Scottish Football League, competing in the 1895–96 Scottish Division Two.

Having won the Scottish Cup twice (1920[2] and 1929)[3] from five appearances in the final before the Second World War,[4] the club's finest achievement was winning the Scottish league title in 1964–65, securing the championship on goal average on the final day by beating direct challengers Hearts 2–0 away from home.[5] It ended a long wait for a trophy – they had been runners-up in four of the past five seasons, and had lost in major domestic cup finals four times in the previous seven years. In the 1966–67 season, Kilmarnock reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, but this was to mark the end of their spell of high achievement, and by 1972–73 they had been relegated for only the second time in their history.

They spent the next two decades regularly swapping between the first and second levels (and one season in the third) before going up to the top tier in 1992–93; they have remained there since, with only three other clubs having longer current runs at that level. Killie won the Scottish Cup for a third time in 1997,[6] and finally claimed the Scottish League Cup, in their sixth appearance in the final, in 2012.[7] In 2018–19, the club's 150th anniversary season, they finished in 3rd place in the Scottish Premiership, their highest position and points total in the modern era.[8]

On 24 May 2021 Kilmarnock were relegated to the Scottish Championship. This is the first time in 28 years they will have played out of the top flight.

Seasons

Pre-1891

Between the club's formation in 1869 and 1891 – when they joined the Scottish Football Alliance – Kilmarnock only competed in cup competitions including the Scottish Cup and the Ayrshire Cup.

SeasonScottish CupAyrshire CupKilmarnock Merchants' Charity CupAyr Charity CupGlasgow Exhibition Cup
1873–74First round
1874–75Second round
1875–76Second round
1876–77Second round
1877–78Second roundSecond round
1878–79First roundFirst round
1879–80Second roundThird round
1880–81Third roundThird round
1881–82Fifth roundRunner-upFirst round
1882–83Second roundFirst roundFirst round
1883–84Third roundWinnersWinners
1884–85Second roundWinnersRunner-upRunner-up
1885–86Second roundWinnersWinners
1886–87Quarter-finalSecond roundRunner-up
1887–88Fourth roundThird roundRunner-upWinners
1888–89Second roundSemi-finalRunner-upSemi-finalFirst round
1889–90First roundFirst roundSemi-final
1890–91First roundWinners
Notes

1891–1914

SeasonLeague recordScottish CupOther competitions
DivisionCompetitionResult
1891–92Scottish Football Alliancebgcolor=#dddddd rowspan="2"2nd221336733829Second roundAyrshire CupThird round
Kilmarnock Merchants' Charity CupWinners
1892–93Scottish Football Alliance7th18459425013Second round
1893–94Ayrshire Football Combination5th12516342411First round
1894–95Ayrshire Football Combination3rd161123562916Second round
1895–96SFL Division Two4th181017454521First round
1896–97SFL Division Two3rd181017443321Semi-finalScottish Qualifying CupWinners
1897–98SFL Division Two1st181413642929Runner-up
1898–991st181440732432Quarter-final
1899–1900SFL Division One5th18666303718Quarter-finalGlasgow & West of Scotland LeagueJoint winners
1900–01SFL Division One5th20749354718Second round
1901–02SFL Division One7th18567212516Quarter-final
1902–03SFL Division One9th226412244316Second round
1903–04SFL Division One14th264517246313Quarter-final
1904–05SFL Division One9th269512294523First round
1905–06SFL Division One15th308418466820Second roundWinners
1906–07SFL Division One16th348521407221Second round
1907–08SFL Division One14th3461315386125Semi-final
1908–09SFL Division One10th3413714476133First round
1909–10SFL Division One11th3412814536032First round
1910–11SFL Division One10th34121012434534First round
1911–12SFL Division One16th3411419386026Third round
1912–13SFL Division One11th34101113375431Third round
1913–14SFL Division One12th3811918486831Third round
Notes

1914–1919

During World War I a number of changes were introduced, the Scottish Cup was suspended for the duration of the conflict and a number of teams were weakened as players went off to fight in the war. Kilmarnock continued to compete in the Scottish Football League.

SeasonLeague recordOther competitions
DivisionCompetitionResult
1914–15SFL Division One12th3815419555934
1915–16SFL Division One10th38121115464935
1916–17SFL Division One6th3818713694543
1917–18SFL Division One3rd3419510694143War Fund ShieldQuarter-final
1918–19SFL Division One9th3414713615935Victory CupFirst round

1919–1939

SeasonLeague recordScottish CupOther competitions
DivisionCompetitionResult
1919–20SFL Division One9th4220319597443Winners
1920–21SFL Division One12th4217817626842Second round
1921–22SFL Division One17th4213920568335Second round
1922–23SFL Division One15th3814717576635Second round
1923–24SFL Division One16th3812818486532Fourth round
1924–25SFL Division One12th3812917536433Quarter-final
1925–26SFL Division One9th3817714797741First round
1926–27SFL Division One16th3812818547132Second round
1927–28SFL Division One8th38151013687840Third round
1928–29SFL Division One10th3814816797436Winners
1929–30SFL Division One8th3815914777339Second round
1930–31SFL Division One11th3815518596035Semi-final
1931–32SFL Division One9th3816715687039Runner-up
1932–33SFL Division One14th3813916728635Fourth round
1933–34SFL Division One7th3817912736443Second round
1934–35SFL Division One9th3816616766838Second round
1935–36SFL Division One8th3814717696435Second round
1936–37SFL Division One11th3814915607037First round
1937–38SFL Division One18th3812917659133Runner-up
1938–39SFL Division One10th3815914738639Second round

1939–1946

Kilmarnock were inactive during World War II as their Rugby Park ground was used as a munitions store by the British Army during the conflict. They began the 1939–40 season in the subsequently abandoned SFL Division One before competing in the unofficial Emergency League West, finishing eighth, and the Scottish War Emergency Cup where they reached the quarter-finals. The club began competing after the conflict had ended in 1945–46, again in unofficial competitions. They finished 15th in the Southern League, were eliminated in the group stages of the Southern League Cup and lost in the second round of the Victory Cup.[9]

1946–present

SeasonLeague recordScottish CupLeague CupOther competitions
DivisionCompetitionResult
1946–47bgcolor=#fcc15th306915446621First roundFirst round
1947–48SFL Division B6th3013413726230First roundFirst round
1948–49SFL Division B6th309714586125First roundFirst round
1949–50SFL Division B7th3014511504333First roundFirst round
1950–51SFL Division B12th308814444924First roundFirst round
1951–52SFL Division B5th3016212624834Second roundFirst round
1952–53SFL Division B4th3017211744836Second roundRunner-up
1953–542nd301947713942Second roundQuarter-final
1954–55SFL Division A10th3010614465826Sixth roundFirst round
1955–56SFL Division One8th34121012524534Sixth roundFirst round
1956–57SFL Division One3rd3416108573942Runner-upFirst round
1957–58SFL Division One5th3414911605537Third roundQuarter-final
1958–59SFL Division One8th3413813585134Quarter-finalSemi-final
1959–60SFL Division One2nd342428674550Runner-upFirst round
1960–61SFL Division One2nd342185774550Second roundRunner-up
1961–62SFL Division One5th3416108745842Quarter-finalFirst round
1962–63SFL Division One2nd342086924048Second roundRunner-up
1963–64SFL Division One2nd342257774049Semi-finalFirst roundSummer CupSemi-final[10]
1964–65SFL Division Onebgcolor=#ffd700 rowspan="2"1st342266623350Quarter-finalFirst roundInter-Cities Fairs CupSecond round
Summer CupGroup stage
1965–66SFL Division One3rd342059734645Quarter-finalSemi-finalEuropean CupFirst round
1966–67SFL Division One7th3416810594640First roundFirst roundInter-Cities Fairs CupSemi-final
1967–68SFL Division One7th3413813595734First roundQuarter-final
1968–69SFL Division One4th3415145503244Quarter-finalFirst round
1969–70SFL Division One7th34131011625736Semi-finalFirst roundInter-Cities Fairs CupThird round
1970–71SFL Division One13th3410816436728Quarter-finalFirst roundInter-Cities Fairs CupFirst round
1971–72SFL Division One11th3411617496428Semi-finalFirst round
1972–73bgcolor=#fcc17th347819407122Fourth roundFirst roundTexaco CupFirst round
1973–742nd362664964458Third roundSemi-final
1974–75bgcolor=#fcc12th3481511526831Third roundQuarter-finalDrybrough CupFirst round
1975–762nd261637442940Quarter-finalFirst roundSpring CupGroup stage
1976–77bgcolor=#fcc10th364923327117Third roundFirst round
1977–78SFL First Division6th39141213524640Quarter-finalSecond round
1978–792nd3922107723554Fourth roundThird round
1979–80SFL Premier Division8th36111114365233Third roundQuarter-finalDrybrough CupSemi-final
1980–81bgcolor=#fcc9th365922236519Fourth roundThird round
1981–822nd3917175602951Quarter-finalFirst round
1982–83bgcolor=#fcc10th3631122289117Third roundQuarter-final
1983–84SFL First Division6th3916617575338Third roundThird round
1984–85SFL First Division12th39121017426134Third roundThird round
1985–86SFL First Division3rd3918813624944Fourth roundSecond round
1986–87SFL First Division6th44171116625345Third roundSecond round
1987–88SFL First Division10th44131120556137Third roundSecond round
1988–89bgcolor=#fcc13th39101415476034Third roundThird round
1989–902nd3921513674147Second roundSecond round
1990–91SFL First Division5th39151311584843Fourth roundThird roundChallenge CupSemi-final
1991–92SFL First Division4th44211211593754Third roundThird roundSecond round
1992–932nd44211211674054Fourth roundQuarter-finalQuarter-final
1993–94SFL Premier Division8th12161636454044Semi-finalSecond round
1994–95SFL Premier Division7th36111015404843Quarter-finalThird round
1995–96SFL Premier Division7th3611817395441Fourth roundThird round
1996–97SFL Premier Division7th3611619416139WinnersSecond round
1997–98SFL Premier Division4th13111240525036Fourth roundThird roundUEFA Cup Winners' CupFirst round
1998–99Scottish Premier League4th3614148472956Third roundQuarter-finalUEFA CupSecond qualifying round
1999–2000Scottish Premier League9th3681315385237Third roundSemi-finalUEFA CupFirst round
2000–01Scottish Premier League4th3815914445354Quarter-finalRunner-up
2001–02Scottish Premier League5th38131015445449Fourth roundThird roundUEFA CupFirst round
2002–03Scottish Premier League4th3816913475657Third roundSecond round
2003–04Scottish Premier League10th3812620517442Fourth roundSecond round
2004–05Scottish Premier League7th3815419495549Fourth roundThird round
2005–06Scottish Premier League5th38151013636455Third roundThird round
2006–07Scottish Premier League5th3816715475455Third roundRunner-up
2007–08Scottish Premier League11th38101018395240Fifth roundThird round
2008–09Scottish Premier League8th3812818384844Fifth roundQuarter-final
2009–10Scottish Premier League11th388921295133Quarter-finalThird round
2010–11Scottish Premier League5th38131015535549Fourth roundQuarter-final
2011–12Scottish Premier League7th38111413446147Fifth roundWinners
2012–13Scottish Premier League9th38111215525345Quarter-finalSecond round
2013–14SPFL Premiership9th3811621456639Fourth roundSecond round
2014–15SPFL Premiership10th3811819445941Fourth roundThird round
2015–16SPFL Premiership11th389920416436Fifth roundThird round
2016–17SPFL Premiership8th3891415365641Fourth roundFirst round
2017–18SPFL Premiership5th38161111494759Quarter-finalSecond round
2018–19SPFL Premiership3rd3819109503167Fifth roundSecond round
2019–20SPFL Premiership8th309615314133Fifth roundQuarter-finalUEFA Europa LeagueFirst qualifying round
2020–21bgcolor=#fcc11th3810622435436Quarter-finalGroup stage
2021–221st362079502767Fourth roundSecond roundScottish Challenge CupSemi-final
2022–23SPFL Premiership10th3811720376240Quarter-finalSemi-final
2023–24SPFL Premiership4th38141410464456Quarter-finalQuarter-final
2024–25SPFL PremiershipUEFA Europa League
Notes

League performance summary

The Scottish Football League was founded in 1890 and, other than during seven years of hiatus during World War II, the national top division has been played every season since. The following is a summary of Kilmarnock's divisional status:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ross, David . Killie: The Official History . 1994 . The Bath Press . Harefield . 1-874427-75-5.
  2. https://killiefc.com/en/17-04-1920-albion-rovers-n-scottish-cup-final_49428/ Killie Win Their 1st of 3 Scottish Cups
  3. https://killiefc.com/en/06-04-1929-rangers-n-scottish-cup-final_49427/ Killie Win The Cup For The Second Time
  4. https://www.killiefc.com/en/1869-1949_54295/ Killie History ..1869-1950 "In The Beginning"
  5. https://www.killiefc.com/en/24-04-1965-hearts-a-div-1_51768/ Killie Clinch Championship On The Final Day
  6. https://killiefc.com/en/24-05-1997-falkirk-n-scottish-cup-final_48915/ Killie Win Their Third Scottish Cup
  7. https://www.killiefc.com/en/18-03-2012-celtic-n-league-cup-final_48916/ Killie Complete Their Domestic Treble
  8. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48242023 Kilmarnock 2–1 Rangers
  9. Web site: Victory Cup. Scottish Football Historical Archive. 11 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180811095303/http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.nf/victory-cup.htm. 11 August 2018. dead.
  10. Web site: Summer Cup. Scottish Football Historical Archive. 11 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180811101210/http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.nf/summer-cup.htm. 11 August 2018. dead.